Paralysis (status condition)

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Reason: Gen IV and V effect, Non-game info

The paralysis condition (PAR) (Japanese: まひ Paralysis), also called paralyze in the Pokémon Stadium series, causes a Pokémon to be unable to attack ("fully paralyzed") a quarter of the time. Additionally, its Speed is reduced to 50% of its previous value (25% prior to Generation VII). Many moves that cause paralysis are Electric-type. Ground-type Pokémon can be paralyzed, but not by Electric-type moves or by the Battle Arcade. In Generation V, Pokémon glow yellow when afflicted with paralysis; additionally, their animations become slower.

Pikachu paralyzing Ursaring in the anime

Effect

In general, a paralyzed Pokémon runs a 25% risk of losing their turn due to full paralysis. In addition, the afflicted Pokémon's Speed is decreased. The specifics work differently between generations.

Generation I

The Speed of a paralyzed Pokémon is decreased by 75%. In the handheld games, this is subject to the stat modifications glitch.

Generation II

If a paralyzed Pokémon Baton Passed to another paralyzed Pokémon, the second one would not have its Speed reduced until a move which affected the Speed stat modifier, recalculating its Speed, was used. In Pokémon Stadium 2, however, the new Pokémon's Speed is reduced if the last Speed-modifying attack used was one that raised Speed. It will not be reduced if the new Pokémon uses a Speed-modifying attack.

In Pokémon Stadium 2, much like in subsequent generations, a short animation plays when a Pokémon cannot move due to full paralysis, albeit its visuals are borrowed from Spark.

Generation III and IV

An animation is shown now when a Pokémon is fully paralyzed (in contrast to previous generations, where there was only an animation when paralysis was inflicted). The text is also different when fully paralyzed. Instead of saying "X is fully paralyzed!" it will say "X is paralyzed! It can't move!"

Generation V

Pokémon now glow yellow and their animation slows down when inflicted with paralysis.

Generation VI

Electric-type Pokémon are now immune to paralysis.

Generation VII

The Speed of a paralyzed Pokémon is decreased by 50% (as opposed to 75%).

Appearance

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Causes

Moves

A Pokémon can be paralyzed when struck by any of the following moves.

Move Type Category Probability Power Accuracy Notes
Body Slam Normal Physical 30% 85 100%
Bolt Strike Electric Physical 20% 130 85%
Bounce Flying Physical 30% 85 85%
Buzzy Buzz Electric Special 100% 90 100%
Discharge Electric Special 30% 80 100%
Dragon Breath Dragon Special 30% 60 100%
Fling Dark Physical 100% 30 100% If Light Ball is held by user
Force Palm Fighting Physical 30% 60 100%
Freeze Shock Ice Physical 30% 140 90%
Glare Normal Status 100% 100%
Lick Ghost Physical 30% 30 100%
Nuzzle Electric Physical 100% 20 100%
Psycho Shift Psychic Status 100% 100% If the user is paralyzed
Secret Power Normal Physical 30% 70 100% May cause paralysis only when used on plain terrain or building floors, in link battles or Sky Battles, in the Distortion World, or when Electric Terrain is in effect
Shadow Bolt Shadow Special 10% 75 100%
Spark Electric Physical 30% 65 100%
Splishy Splash Water Special 30% 90 100%
Stoked Sparksurfer Electric Special 100% 175 —%
Stun Spore Grass Status 100% 75% Grass types, as well as Pokémon with Overcoat or Safety Goggles, are immune to Stun Spore from Generation VI onward.
Thunder Electric Special 30% 110 70%
Thunder Fang Electric Physical 10% 65 95% May also cause flinching (10% chance)
Thunder Punch Electric Physical 10% 75 100%
Thunder Shock Electric Special 10% 40 100%
Thunder Wave Electric Status 100% 90%
Thunderbolt Electric Special 10% 90 100%
Tri Attack Normal Special 6.67% 80 100% May also burn or freeze (6.67% chance of each)
Volt Tackle Electric Physical 10% 120 100% May cause paralysis from Generation IV onwards. User receives ⅓ of damage dealt as recoil damage.
Zap Cannon Electric Special 100% 120 50%


Other causes

A Pokémon has a 30% chance of being paralyzed after making contact with a Pokémon with the Static Ability, and a 10% chance after making contact with a Pokémon with Effect Spore. A Pokémon can also become paralyzed if it directly paralyzes a Pokémon with the Synchronize Ability.

Curing

Paralysis can be cured with the use of a Paralyze Heal or a Cheri Berry (PRZCureBerry in Generation II). In addition, like all other major status conditions, it can be cured by the items Full Heal, Rage Candy Bar, Lava Cookie, Old Gateau, Casteliacone, Lumiose Galette, Shalour Sable, Big Malasada, Full Restore, Heal Powder, Lum Berry (MiracleBerry in Generation II), and Sacred Ash.

The moves Refresh and Rest remove the paralysis from the user, while Heal Bell (unless the Pokémon has Soundproof as their Ability in Generation III and IV) and Aromatherapy remove it from all Pokémon in the user's party. In addition, the move Psycho Shift shifts the paralysis onto its target (thereby healing the user). Furthermore, if its target is paralyzed, Smelling Salts will cure the paralysis in addition to becoming more powerful. In Generation I only, using Haze cures the opponent from paralysis.

Pokémon with Natural Cure will be cured upon switching out, those with the Hydration Ability will be cured whilst it is raining. Pokémon with Shed Skin have a 30% chance of being cured every turn, and Pokémon with Healer have a 1/3 chance of curing their allies.

Prevention

Starting in Generation VI, Electric-type Pokémon are immune to being paralyzed. However, if a Pokémon's Electric type is changed through a type-changing move like Soak, it is then paralyzed and switched out (resetting to the Electric type), the paralysis will remain.

Pokémon with the Abilities Limber and Comatose are completely immune to being paralyzed. Pokémon with the Ability Leaf Guard will be protected from status conditions in harsh sunlight. In Generation IV only, the Ability Magic Guard will prevent Pokémon from being fully paralyzed; however, it does not prevent the Speed reduction.

The moves Safeguard and Misty Terrain (for grounded Pokémon) will protect the party from status conditions for five turns. A Pokémon behind a substitute cannot be paralyzed, except due to Synchronize.

Advantages

While paralysis, like all major status conditions, has primarily negative effects, it can be advantageous to have it in certain conditions. Pokémon with Guts, Marvel Scale, and Quick Feet will have their Attack, Defense, and Speed increased, respectively, when paralyzed, poisoned, or burned. In addition, the base power of Facade is doubled (from 70 to 140) when inflicted with any of these three status conditions.

Other game effects

In Pokémon Emerald, when the player is inside the Battle Pyramid, the types of Pokémon encountered on each floor follow a set of categories; one of these categories is Pokémon with moves that paralyze.

In the spin-off games

Mystery Dungeon series

Paralyzed Pokémon cannot use moves or regular attack, but they can still throw items. Their Movement Speed is reduced by one stage. Paralysis wears off after a few turns.

Rumble series

Paralysis (Paralyzed when inflicted in-game) is a negative status in the Rumble series. A Pokémon affected by paralysis is unable to move or use any moves for roughly five seconds. However, if the affected Pokémon is controlled by a player, inputting movement or button commands will make the effect wear off faster, with a minimum duration of about two seconds. Paralyzed Pokémon shake in place with their body surrounded by yellow lightning-bolt-shaped particles.

No types are immune to paralysis, but Pokémon with the Adept, Electric Boost, or Steady Special Traits cannot be paralyzed, and those with the Reflector Trait will cause the user of the paralysis-inflicting move to become paralyzed instead if hit by one.

Pokémon Conquest

As in the main series, in Pokémon Conquest, paralysis lowers the Pokémon's Speed, and there is a chance at the start of each turn for the Pokémon to be fully paralyzed and unable to act, though their Warrior may still use items and abilities. Because Pokémon Conquest uses Speed to determine the accuracy of attacks, Pokémon inflicted with paralysis also suffer a heavy penalty to their accuracy and evasion. Paralysis can be inflicted by abilities, attacks, and Electro Nodes in Dragnor. It can be cured with Warrior Skills, items, or ending the Pokémon's turn in a hot spring, water bucket, or next to one of Dragnor's Revival Nodes.

Pokémon Shuffle

In Pokémon Shuffle, a paralyzed Pokémon cannot use any disruptions and its disruption countdown is paused.

Paralysis can be inflicted by Pokémon with the Dragon Shriek, Lightning, Paralyze, Quake, or Shock Attack Skills. The Paralysis Combo Skill also boosts damage against paralyzed foes.

Flying, Poison, Ghost, Steel, Electric, Psychic, Dragon, and Fairy-type Pokémon are immune to paralysis.

In the anime

 
Sawk is paralyzed

In the manga

 
Honchkrow paralyzed in Pokémon Adventures

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

In Danger: High Voltorb, Red's Poli was paralyzed by Lt. Surge's Voltorb.

In Muk Raking, Blue was paralyzed by Agatha's Gengar's Lick. He was later cured by a Paralyze Heal from Koga.

In Red and Blue Make Purple Opponents, Red's Gyara was paralyzed by a Tri Attack from Blue's Porygon2.

In Secrets from Sneasel, Blue's Alakazam, after copying Yellow's Chuchu's Ability with Role Play, paralyzed Chuchu with Static.

In Susceptible to Sceptile, Emerald's Sceptile was revealed to have paralyzed Ruby's Feefee off-panel with Body Slam. This, however, activated Feefee's Marvel Scale, boosting her defenses.

In Pleased as Punch With Parasect, Silver's Honchkrow was paralyzed and immobilized by Ariana's Arbok's Glare.

Trivia

  • Paralysis can be inflicted by moves of ten different types, more than any other non-volatile status condition.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 麻痺 Màhbei
Mandarin 麻痺 Mábì
  Danish Lammet
  Finnish Halvaus
French   Canada Paralysé*
  Europe Paralysie
  German Paralysiert
  Italian Paralizzato
  Korean 마비 Mabi
  Norwegian Lammet
  Polish Paraliż
Portuguese   Brazil Paralisado
  Portugal Paralisia*
  Russian Парализованный Paralizovannyy
  Spanish Paralizado
  Swedish Förlamad
  Vietnamese Tê liệt


Status conditions
BURNED FROZEN PARALYSIS POISONED
ASLEEP CONFUSION FLINCHING FAINTED


  This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games.